Protective hood for bottles



June 13, 1939. s, BERCH r AL 2,161,993

PROTECTIVE noon FOR BOTTLES Filed Dec. 21, 1936 INVENTORS W 55am fi ATTORNEYS Patented June 13, 1939 PROTECTIVE HOOD FOR BOTTLES Samuel H. Berch and Don Ray, Los Angeles, and Ernest S. Chase, Glendale, calif assignors to Arden Farms, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Maryland Application December 21, 1936, Serial No. 117,022

1 Claim. (Cl. 2l538) This invention relates to improvements in the protection of milk, cream and other liquid food stuffs from contamination. Although the invention is applicable to various food stuffs and may be applied to bottles or containers of divers shapes, it is particularly applicable to milk and cream bottles of the usual type and the subsequent description relates thereto.

Whereas great care is taken to properly sterilize bottles, milk and equipment during bottling, these precautions are virtually completely nullified as soon as the filled bottle leaves the loading platform of a dairy. The filled bottles are generally delivered by trucks and are repeatedly handled during transfer to the trucks. Often the tops of the bottles are covered with burlap sacks containing crushed ice and this ice melts and soaks the caps of the bottles. During delivery the cases and bottles are often stacked and restacked, thereby subjecting the caps to repeated abrasion, contact with ice sacks, etc., and variations in temperature due to exposure to sunlightor shielding therefrom. The milk bottle is left on the door-step, often in the sun. Later it is placed in a refrigerator. As a result, the contents of the bottle are subjected to a number of temperature changes while the bottle itself is handled and the lip brought into contact with hands, sacks, contaminating liquids, etc., at least four times. It has been determined that the decrease in volume of milk on a one quart bottle with decrease in temperature from 76.6 F. to 45 F. amounts to 4.63 cc. Such decrease in volume reduces the pressure within the bottle and tends to suck in liquids, gases, impurities and bacteria through and around the single disc-like cap usually applied to bottles of this type.

It has been also determined that the usual handling during delivery may increase the average bacterial count of the milk contained in the bottle by 700,000 organisms per cubic centimeter (individual increases running to several million), the average increase due to handling amounting to 40% or more of the normal bacterial count.

An attempt has been made to overcome this condition by the use of a secondary cap over the bottle but the existing forms of these are notsatisfactory for many reasons. The present invention is the result of extensive investigations and studies made of this problem. It will be noted that when milk is poured from a bottle, the milk not only contacts with the round portion of the lip but in addition contacts with the exterior of the bottle to a point well below the constriction at the base of such rounded lip. It has been discovered that the lip and the exterior surface of the bottle for a distance of at least 1 inch below the constriction can be protected from contamination so that the pouring ,of the contents over the lip does not contaminate The bottle hood of the present invention not only completely covers the head of the bottle and the lip thereof, so that the lip is protected from contamination by handling, but in addition the bottle hood partially shields the contents of the bottle, thereby minimizing the tendency for the contents to vary in temperature or volume. Furthermore, the bottle hood of this invention, treated in accordance with the description given hereinafter, is virtually liquid and gas tight and will not soften, deteriorate or become porous or absorbent by being exposed to direct sunlight for a. long period of time or by being brought in contact with liquids such as rain, ice water, etc. The bottle hoods are further resistant to breakage, weakening or disruption due to abrasion and are designed to closely and tenaciously fit over and around the lip of the bottle and to an appreciable distance below the lips so that infiltration of impurities is effectivelv prevented.

The invention furthermore relates to a bottle hood comprising a combination of elements which must bear a very definite relationship to each other and to the bottle in order to be effective. For example, it has been found that a bottle hood in order to effectively prevent contamination of the milk within a bottle, must beprovided with 'four outwardly extending under-portions and four outwardly extending over-portions, each of these elements bearing a predetermined relationship to the others, the connecting members being formed in a specific manner since variations in length or width of as little as 0.1 inch will completely destroy the value of the hood and render it ineffective to obtain the desired result. The angulation of the edges of these various members must also be closely adhered to as even minor changes produce openings which impair theeffectiveness of the device.

The problem solved by the present invention must take additional variables into consideration. Heretofore an attempt has been made to protect the pouring lip of a bottle by applying thereto a crimped cap, which crimped cap was then held in place by means of a wire tightened around the neck of the bottle and either twisted or welded to make a joint. An effective protective device must be free from ties such as wires or bands, since these instrumentalities cut into the hood or closure member, impairing its resistance to penetration by liquids and are a source of injury to the persons handling the bottle during shipment or during removal of the hood.

Moreover, whatever 'device is applied to the bottlemust be capable of being applied thereto within a very short period of time, generally measured in seconds and correlated to the speed of standard filling machines, so that the output or production of the bottling department is not reduced. Since a standard bottle-filling machine will fill 60 to 80 bottles a minute, the application of the protective element must be carried out at the same rate. This in itself excludes from consideration complicated structures which require manipulation, tyin Welding, or the like.

Ordinary adhesives can not be employed since ordinary adhesives will not properly cement water-resistant and water-repellent materials together and are usually so slow in action as to render theiruse highly impractical.

The present invention offers a solution to all of these problems in that it contemplates the production and utilization of a protective cover made of fibrous material coated and/or impregnated with a flexible abrasion-resisting and water-resisting substance which is then used to bond overlapping portions of the cover or hood and weld the same into a substantially unitary body, the weld becoming an integral part of the device and having extraordinary water-resisting properties. No added adhesives are used.

Generally stated, therefore, the invention is based upon the discovery that bacterial contamination of milk is possible through the usual single disc cap and that such contamination can be virtually prevented by applying an accurately pre-cut hood which has been rendered thoroughly resistant to abrasion, softening, the passage of liquids, etc., forming the hood into final shape directly upon the bottle and sealing the hood in place by the use of. the coating composition so as to form a substantially gas-tight and waterproof enclosure over the entire head of the bottle.

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a container for liquid food stuffs such as, for example, a milk bottle, provided with a protecting hood extending completely over the opening or port of the bottle and downwardly along the' neck of the bottle, said hood being water resistant, substantially gas tight, snugly fitting the neck of the bottle, and free from wires, bands. or other accessories.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle hood comprising a sheet of fibrous material coated and/or impregnated with a flexible, water-resisting composition whereby the sheet is rendered substantially impervious to fluids, said composition being capable of being converted into an integral cement or adhesive.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bottle hood'provided with four or more outwardly extending under-portions and four or more outwardly extending over-portions, said under and over-portions extending from a central or body portion having a diameter materially larger than the outer diameter of the hood of a bottle, the diameter of such center portion preferably being between 3. and 3.8' inches.

An object of the invention is to provide a bottle hood made from fibrous material coated and/or impregnated with a water-resisting composition, said bottle hood being precut as by means of a die to a predetermined shape whereby 75 the hood may be folded around the head of a bottle and accuratelyand snugly attached to the bottle, effectively preventing the infiltration of foreign matter into the contents of the bottle.

Other objects, advantages, modifications and uses of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of preferred forms of the invention.

In describing the invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the top of a milk bottle provided with the im-- proved means for protecting the contents against contamination to which this invention is directed.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a bottle hood in extended form shown on the bottle of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the hood of Fig. 2, showing specific dimensions of the preferred form.

As shown in Fig. 1, the head of a usual milk or cream bottle is provided with a neck portion l which terminates in an enlargedpouring lip 2, the outer diameter of said lip being appreciably larger than the diameter at about the plane of the shoulder 3 formed on the inside of the throat of the bottle, said shoulder being adapted to receive and hold a usual disc-like cap 4.

These disc-like caps 4 are often made waterrepellent by the application-of wax or the like but as has been definitely shown by exhaustive tests conducted by the health authorities of various municipalities, the usual disc cap 4' is not moisture proof and readily softens under heat or in the presence of water. Moreover,infiltration of impurities and bacteria through the cap and around the edges of the cap 4 takes place very readily. Obviously the entire pouring lip 2 is open to contact with the hands and the atmosphere so that when the contents are poured over the lip, the milk, cream or other fluid product is readily contaminated with the organic matter which has accumulated on the lip surface.

In accordance with this invention, a suitable fibrous material such as a pressed paper termed tag board is first rendered thoroughly waterresistant and strengthened by impregnation and/or coating of both sides with a resinous.

composition containing nitrocellulose. Prior to coating the fibrous material may be imprinted with suitable descriptive advertising or decorative matter. It is to be remembered that the tag board should be flexible, what is known as 100 pound tag board (100 pounds to ream of 24 x 36 inch sheets) being eminently suited for the purpose of this invention. The coating of this board with the waterproofing composition may be accomplished in any suitable apparatus which spreads the composition upon the surface V of the paper.

A waterproofing composition which has been found eminently suited for the purposes of this invention contains the following ingredients in the proportions stated:

Percent Nitrocellulose to 10 seconds viscosity) 10 Resin 25 Plasticizer such as dibutyl phthalate 5 Volatile solvent 60 The various ketones, esters, ethers and alcohols can be used for solvents and certain of the hydro The resins may be either natural or synthetic,

it being essential that the resulting coating left upon the paper after evaporation of the solvent be water repellent, dense, flexible, resistant to abrasion and capable of being readily soluble upon the application of solvents to form a strong, quick-acting adhesive. Copal resin is an example of a suitable natural resin. Instead of nitrocellulose, cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, etc., can be used. Furthermore, solutions of oxidizing resins and driers in solvents can also be employed. Spirit varnishes such as resins drying from solution lacksufficient waterproofing properties and flexibility to be wholly satisfactory.

Tag board so prepared is then dried and die stamped to form a blank of the type shown in Fig. 2, the specific arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and 3 having been found to be most effective. By referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the preferred form of blank comprises a central or body portion whose diameter is indicated at D, provided with radially extending tabs. These tabs, eight in number, comprise alternate under-tabs and over-tabs.

Numerals 5, 6, I and 8 identify the under-tabs whereas numerals [0, ll, l2 and i3 identify the over-tabs. The central or body portion has a diameter which is materially in excess of the outer diameter of the lip 2 of the bottle to whichthe hood is to be applied. For example, while the outer diameter of a standard milk bottle head is about 2.2 inches, the diameter D of the preferred blank is between 3.5 and 3.8 or 3.9 inches. In the preferred form, D is equal to 3.7 inches. The tabs 8-and Ill-l3 extend at least 1 inch beyond the diameter, D. Preferably the under-tabs 5--8 are slightly shorter than the over-tabs lfll3. Furthermore, the tabs are preferably restricted in width in a zone tangential to the circle whose diameter is D and are of increased width thereafter. The side margins of the various tabs preferably diverge or flare outwardly so that when the blank is placed on a bottle head and folded around the lip of the bottle to form the protective device or hood, the tabs will extend downwardly along the neck of the bottle whereas the top and lip of the bottle are com pletely covered by an impervious uncut sheet of material. The zones of restricted width, indicated at A, occur immediately below the bulging lip of the bottle at the point 9 in Fig. 1.

In order to efficiently prevent the contents of the bottlefrom contamination, the blank must be made in accordance with the teachings of this invention. In order to positively identify the relationships existing between the various elements of the blank, reference is made to Fig. 3 which illustrates in detail the preferred form of blank. As there shown the central portion of the blank is provided with indented or embossed crease lines l5, I6, I1, is, etc., in the form of an octagon, each of such linesbeing about 0.9 inch long. These crease lines are indentations made in the back of the blank, resulting in ridges on the upper face of the blank. The internal diameter of the octagon thus formed should be equal to the external diameter of the lip 2 and as indicated in Fig.v 3, the distance separating opposing indentations is preferably 2.2 inches. Extending outwardly from every other side of the octagon as, for example, from the ends of crease lines l5 and H; are upwardly directed crease lines 20 and 21 or 20' and 2|. These crease lines 20 and 2| are parallel and extend toward the overtabs to I3; The length of the crease lines 20 and 2| is preferably 0.8 inch, such crease lines terminating at the constricted portion A of the over-tabs Ill-l 3. Beyond the outer ends of crease lines 20 and 2| the over-tabs Ill-l3 widen to a width of about 1.4 inches, said tabs being then provided with gradually diverging side margins so that at a distance of 1.8 inches from the crease line l5 the over-tabs now have a width of 1.5 inches.

From that point upwardly the tabs may assume any desired form. As shown, the tabs are provided with trapezoidal ends, the side margins bending toward one another rearwardly. In this specific example the overall length of the overtabs- Ill-I3 measured from the crease lines l5, l1, etc., is 2.36 inches.

As has been pointed out hereinabove, the minimum diameter of the central portion, indicated by D, is 3.7 inches. Such minimum diameter occurs along a crease line 22 which is 0.66 inch in length and extends outwardly from the juncture of crease lines l5 and Hi to a point 0.35 inch from the termination of crease line 20. As a result, the outer terminal of crease line 22 is closer to the center portion than the outer terminal of crease line 20. It is important to note that crease lines 22, 23 and the like are closer to the' under-tabs than they are to the over-tabs. The zone of, minimum distance on the under-tabs, indicated by B, is separated from the terminus of crease line 22 a distance of only 0.3 inch. Moreover, it is important to note that crease lines 22, 23, and the like are indentations in the face of the blank and result in ridges on the under side or bottom of the blank. In, other words, all other crease lines except those indicated by the numerals 22, 23, and the like, are upwardly directed ridges whereas 22 and 23' are downwardly directed indentationsit being assumed that the blank is in a horizontal position with its outer face directed upwardly.

The under-tabs 5-8 preferably have a total length from crease lines I6, l8, etc., of 1.9 inches, their total width at a distance of 1.0 inch from said crease lines being 1.42 inches. From such point the side margins of the undersections 5-8 gradually flare outwardly to a maximum width of 1.5 inches. It is to be noted that the zones of minimum width B are 0.75 inch from the crease lines [6 and I8. In other words, such zones of minimum width are slightly closer to the corresponding octagonal crease line than similar zones of minimum width carried by the over-sections Ill-I3.

After a fibrous sheet of tag board has been coated with the waterproofing compositions described hereinabove, dried, die cut in accordance with the description given hereinabove, and then embossed with crease lines in the manner stated, the blank is ready to be placed on a bottle and sealed. Immediately prior to application of the blank to a bottle the reverse or back side of the over-tabs Ill-l3 is momentarily brought in contact with a solvent capable of acting upon the ingredients of the coating composition, both resinous and nitrated.

It has been found that a suitable solvent correlated with the specific coating composition given hereinabove, comprises 50% acetone, 30% methyl acetate and 20% methyl alcohol since such solvent does not cause segregation of the resinous ingredients upon evaporation. The evaporation rate of this solvent is correlated to the speed of the hooding machine. Within 1 seconds after such moistening, the blank is placed on the bottle and the under-tabs 5-8 are bent downwardly around the lip, such downward bending being facilitated by the downwardly pressed crease lines 22 and 23 and the upwardly directed crease lines 20 and 2|. Thereafter the over-tabs l0--l3 are folded down around the lip of the bottle, such folding being facilitated by the octagonally arranged and upwardly directed crease lines I5, 16, ll, I8, etc. The under-side of the over-tabs Ill-I3 is thus brought into contact with the top surfaces of the under-tabs 58 and since the underside of the over-tabs carries a solvent, adhesion and cementing of the over-tabs to the under-tabs with a continuous, integral film of the coating composition takes place. The overtabs are maintained in pressure contact with the neck of the bottle and the under-tabs for a period of approximately 3 /2 seconds, whereupon the pressure is released and it is found that the hood is perfectly formed, presenting a-tight and smooth contour around the entire lip and neck, the cementing action being complete.

Mechanism for automatically positioning the pre-cut blanks over bottles, moistening them with the activating solvent and forming or folding the required portions thereof around the top of the bottle to form a hood, is described in a copending application.

By reason of the specific arrangement of creases and their direction, it is possible to employ a material as thick and as strong as the tag board referred to herein without tearing the same.

The waterproofing composition described hereinabove is sufliciently elastic and flexible so that even after the entire hood is formed around the bottle, no cracks or imperfections exist in the hood and the entire hood is virtually water and vapor tight. Since the adhesive is an integral part of the coating, itis possible to soak the formed hood in either cold or hot water for a period of hours without loosening the bond and ordinarily when an attempt is made to remove the hood by lifting one of the over-tabsit will be found that the tag board will tear without releasing the surface bond with the under-tabs.

The specific dimensions given hereinabove are of great importance in the production of a hood capable of effectively protecting the top of a milk bottle. It will be found that the edge 24 of one under-tab section will be in virtual abutment with the edge 25 of an adjoining under-section. Zones of minimum width A and B permit the lower portions of the tabs to bend outwardly immediately below the point 9 of the bottle. Attention is again called to the fact that the crease line 22 is shorter than the crease line 20 and is shorter than the distance separating the point of minimum width of the under-tab and the corresponding octagonal crease l6, l8, etc. This construction permits the fold to be made without breaking the continuity of the seal formed around the bottle. The hood, when in place on a bottle, presents a smooth, molded appearance and the contents of the bottle are effectively prevented from contamination.

We claim:

A shrouding hood for a milk bottle or the like consisting of a sheet of fibrous material with a coating on each side thereof forming a flexible and waterproof hood, said hood having a center portion of a diameter sufliciently large to overlap the head of such bottle and having extending tab portions adapted to overlap when extended over the neck of such bottle and form a continuous covering thereof, said coating being composed of resin and nitrated cellulose containing lacquer adapted on application of a solvent to unite said tabs together and to said bottle to seal the bottle in a fluid tight condition with the said hood.

SAMUEL H. BEECH. DON RAY.

ERNEST s. CHASE. 

